Consider the population of the American criminal justice system. Federal and juvenile corrections facilities, immigration detention centers, and local, tribal, and military jails house more than two million individuals. There are nearly four million people on probation and 850,000 individuals on parole. Sworn police and law enforcement officers number 900,000; more than 400,000 persons are employed in corrections institutions. Then, of course, there are the countless attorneys, judges, and court personnel.
Consider as well the steady decline in crime rates. Nationally, according to a 2015 report by the Brennan Center for Justice, violent crime is about half of what it was in 1991, and property crime is down by over 40 percent. Still, public perception is not in sync with the facts. Polls show that a majority of Americans believe that crime rates rise annually. Public scrutiny of the system and those who work within it may be at an all-time high.
Arguably, those 900,000 sworn law officers labor in an increasingly difficult environment. More Americans are armed, drug epidemics continue. Threats from foreign and domestic terrorists persist. New responsibilities such as in-school policing and community liaison activities, though positive developments, require police resources and new skills. Encounters with citizen groups—whether peaceful protesters, a frenzied political rally, or a gathering following a controversial police shooting—raise questions about the military-style outfitting of the police and the manner in which potentially violent encounters are handled. Technological advances offer citizens new means of monitoring and rapidly publicizing police behavior. Police on the job are sometimes targets themselves.
Detention facilities employ practices that punish without working toward rehabilitation. Women in many prisons are subject to procedures that were geared to managing men and fail to address the unique needs of incarcerated mothers and their children. So, too, the antiquated system that processes juvenile offenders and the institutions housing them are challenged to reduce recidivism and improve long-term outcomes. The privatization of prisons, a controversial trend, is under observation by prisoners’ rights groups and increased political scrutiny.
Challenges ahead
These burgeoning challenges in justice and policing drive patrons to reference desks. Community activists, students, journalists, concerned citizens, and law enforcement watchdogs require statistics and analysis to bolster or rebut arguments. Advocates for juvenile offenders search for successful approaches. Questions about the effects of militarization on police units or the use of social media in law enforcement intrigue and confound. Local governments and citizen advocates need sources that will explore trends and help communities plan for the future.
Fortunately, these topics are being addressed in a variety of formats. Blogs, podcasts, and websites from the private sector respond quickly to current issues. Government agencies add valuable perspective from the enforcement sphere. Documentaries offer vivid narratives and raise compelling questions. Government and public interest websites compile comparative crime statistics across time, location, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and race. New evidence-based analyses by scholars and those with insider experience advance the conversation. The titles below address these fast-moving issues and actions. The topic actively demands our careful collection development attention. Web resources are included in the online version of this feature (reviews.libraryjournal.com).
Starred (
) titles are essential for most collections.
Joan Pedzich spent her career as a law librarian and is a longtime reviewer of law-related films and books for LJ. She is a published short fiction author and loves independent cinema
BooksAmerican Policing in 2022: Essays on the Future of the Profession. U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Svcs. 2012. 134p. ed. by Debra R. Cohen McCullough & Deborah L. Spence. photogs. ISBN 9781935676041. pap. Free.
Twenty-seven essays by experts with policing backgrounds offer experience-based predictions and cautions on such topics as police and community partnering, understanding and improving measurements of effectiveness, and managing technology.
Arditti, Joyce A. Parental Incarceration and the Family: Psychological and Social Effects of Imprisonment on Children, Parents and Caregivers. New York Univ. 2012. 249p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780814705124. $70; ebk. ISBN 9780814705131.
Arditti (human development, Virginia Tech) considers the nearly two million children (18 and under) who have an incarcerated parent, analyzing the dynamics of both maternal and paternal confinement. An excellent appendix cites studies for further research.
Balko, Radley. Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Forces. PublicAffairs. 2014. 382p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781610394574. pap. $17.99.
Journalist Balko opens with a history of policing in America, documenting the shift to police officers resembling soldiers more than peace officers, both in mentality and equipment, a trend that has had negative effects on the relationship between police and citizens. He asks important questions about the long-term impact of a military mind-set.
Bernstein, Nell. Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison. New Pr. 2016. 365p. bibliog. ISBN 9781595589569. $26.95.
Supported by true stories of juvenile offenders, Bernstein makes the case that the system abuses rather than helps. She instead calls for rehabilitative programs such as special foster care placements and intensive family counseling.
Bolgiano, David & others. Virtuous Policing: Bridging America’s Gulf Between Police and Populace. CRC. 2016. 240p. index. ISBN 9781498723503. pap. $59.95.
This book examines the use of force by military and civilian police and the resulting rift between the public and the police. Real cases demonstrate the complexities of keeping the peace and why confrontations tip toward violence. Bolgiano dissects the role of the Internet and the press in creating tensions. Specific solutions, especially enhanced training opportunities, are enumerated.
Bumgarner, Jeff. Profiling and Criminal Justice in America. 2d ed. ABC-CLIO. 2015. 377p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781610698511. $58.
The author considers how the justice system deliberately weighs factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, and religion. Illustrating with actual court cases, he demonstrates that profiling on the streets, in the courthouse, and in prison affects individual rights. A time line of incidents is included.
Crime in the United States 2016. 10th ed. Bernan. (U.S. Data Book). 2016. 675p. ed. by Shana Hertz Haddis. index. ISBN 9781598888263. $105; ebk. ISBN 9781598888270.
This essential statistical compilation, updated and released annually, prints the data collected by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Recent info about crime rates and trends is compiled and organized by state and selected municipalities.
Domanick, Joe. Blue: The LAPD and the Battle To Redeem American Policing. S. & S. 2015. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781451641073. $28; ebk. ISBN 9781451641110.
While focusing on the Los Angeles Police Department, the author takes a hard look at big-city policing in the years since the Rodney King riots in 1992. Domanick populates his tale of racism and renewal with perspectives from those present at the events.
Hinton, Elizabeth. From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America. Harvard Univ. 2016. 448p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9780674737235. pap. $29.95.
Hinton’s (history & African and African American studies, Harvard) detailed, documented chronicle illuminates how America developed the world’s largest prison system.
Howell, James C. The History of Street Gangs in the United States: Their Origins and Transformations. Lexington. 2015. 165p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781498511322. $80; ebk. ISBN 9781498511339.
Howell, a senior associate at the National Gang Center, covers the emergence and persistence of gangs from the 1880s to the present. Street, prison, and transnational gangs are explored as are programs proven to have a reductive impact.
Kelly, William R. The Future of Crime and Punishment: Smart Policies for Reducing Crime and Saving Money. Rowman & Littlefield. 2016. 256p. bibliog. ISBN 9781442264816. $38; ebk. ISBN 9781442264823.
Kelly (sociology, Univ. of Texas at Austin) examines the criminal justice system’s inadequacies and proposes a broad, radical overhaul of the entire system, from prosecution policies to corrections.
Looman, Mary D. & John D. Carl. A Country Called Prison: Mass Incarceration and the Making of a New Nation. Oxford Univ. 2015. 232p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780190211035. $29.95.
Looman and Carl, experts in criminology and social services, examine the enormous prison system as if it were a country. A close look at the economics of mass incarceration is useful. The authors show how, under the current system, the effects of imprisonment can continue after release. (LJ 5/15/15)
McCorkel, Jill A. Breaking Women: Gender, Race, and the New Politics of Imprisonment. New York Univ. 2013. 272p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780814761489. $85.
McCorkel (sociology & criminal justice, Villanova Univ.) interviews incarcerated women and prison staff to study “habilitation” drug treatment and its debilitating effects on the women it was intended to help. Further, she raises pointed questions about for-profit correctional institutions.
Nellis, Ashley. A Return to Justice: Rethinking Our Approach to Juveniles in the System. Rowman & Littlefield. 2016. 181p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781442227668. $36; ebk. ISBN 978142227675.
Nellis, an analyst at the Sentencing Project, traces the history of juvenile justice and documents the research that is driving a swing back to treating youthful offenders differently than adults. Case studies are cited, as are practices that focus on prevention.
Redekop, Vern Neufeld & Shirley Paré. Beyond Control: A Mutual Respect Approach to Protest Crowd–Police Relations. Bloomsbury. 2010. 257p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781849660044. $90; ebk. ISBN 9781849660174.
The authors consider the nature of protest gatherings and advocate for peaceable handling of such crowds. Their solution to violent clashes is the creation of a “mutual respect paradigm” that emphasizes trust and a reliance on the principle that civil protest is essential in a healthy democracy.
Schenwar, Maya. Locked Down, Locked Out: Why Prison Doesn’t Work and How We Can Do Better. Berrett-Kohler. 2014. 228p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781626562691. pap. $18.95.
The author uses her family’s experiences and the experiences of others to indict the prison system as flawed, dangerous, and cruel. Her stories and suggestions of restorative solutions are eye-opening. (LJ 1/15)
Simon, Jonathan. Mass Incarceration on Trial: A Remarkable Court Decision and the Future of Prisons in America. New Pr. 2014. 209p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781595587695. $26.95.
After examining several key court cases arising out of the appalling conditions in California’s prisons, Simon (law, Univ. of California, Berkeley) theorizes that prison overcrowding creates cruel and unusual punishment. He shows how these cases that challenged that environment can result in a system that recognizes human rights.
Solinger, Rickie & others. Interrupted Life: Experiences of Incarcerated Women in the United States. Univ. of California. 2010. 480p. index. ISBN 9780520252493. $65.
These first-person accounts from women who are imprisoned and those who work with or advocate for them—including essays, poems, and memoir pieces—vividly capture that population’s range of emotions, experiences, and angst.
Spalek, Basia. Terror Crime Prevention with Communities. Bloomsbury. 2013. 184p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781849664813. $90; ebk. ISBN 9781849664844.
This timely book is based on research in the United States and the UK. Spalek (social policy, Kingston Univ., UK) scrutinizes policing practices that successfully involve communities in terror prevention.
Stamper, Norm. To Protect and Serve: How To Fix America’s Police. Nation. 2016. 336p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781568585406. pap. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 978156858413.
Stamper, former chief of the Seattle PD, calls for a radical new approach to policing. He writes of the challenges and changes in law enforcement in recent decades and stresses community participation in every aspect of policing operations.
Stevenson, Bryan. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Spiegel & Grau. 2014. 352p. bibliog. ISBN 9780812994520. $28; ebk. ISBN 9780812994537.
Lawyer Stevenson’s elegant memoir reveals the dark side of the criminal justice system as he recounts his efforts to help those who have been unfairly treated. His work on behalf of adolescents resulted in a Supreme Court case that prohibited life sentences without parole for children. (LJ 10/1/14)
Sullivan, Irene. Raised by the Courts: One Judge’s Insight into Juvenile Justice. Kaplan. 2010. 304p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781607146384. $25.
Sullivan, a juvenile court justice, packs her book with stories of children who came before her while she was on the bench. She highlights creative programs with demonstrated results and promotes initiatives such as gender-specific programs and family therapy.
Toch, Hans. Cop Watch: Spectators, Social Media and Police Reform. American Psychological Assn. 2012. 188p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781433811197. $37.95.
Social psychologist Toch writes of the influence of vocal spectators and bystanders on reforms. He shows how the presence of cell phone cameras, blogs, and social media can be influential in public awareness and have a tremendous impact on police policies and behavior.
Understanding Juvenile Justice and Delinquency. Praeger. 2016. 262p. ed. by Marilyn D. McShane & Michael Cavanaugh. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781440839627. $48; ebk. ISBN 9781440839634.
Compiling the expertise of numerous scholars in areas related to juvenile justice, this work addresses the changing thinking on delinquency, including incarceration, juveniles and cyberspace, race and ethnicity, drugs, and the effect of incarcerated parents.
Van Cleve, Nicole Gonzalez. Crook County: Racism and Injustice in America’s Largest Criminal Court. Stanford Univ. 2016. 248p. bibliog. ISBN 9780804790437. pap. $24.
The result of a decade-long investigation of the practices in the largest criminal court in the country, Chicago-Cook County, these behind-the-scenes observations outline patterns of racial inequity that blunt justice for people of color.
Wood, Lesley J. Crisis and Control: The Militarization of Protest Policing. Between the Lines. 2014. 205p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780745333892. $99; ebk. ISBN 9781783712113.
Wood (sociology, York Univ., Toronto) looks at police reactions to protests and gatherings in the United States and Canada, including the Occupy Wall Street movement and the protests at the Toronto G20 summit. The book questions the overpolicing of protests and warns of the effects on democracy.
DVDs
Arresting Power: Resisting Police Violence in Portland, Oregon. color & b/w. 84+ min. Collective Eye Films. 2015. $40; acad. Libs. $250.
Using archival footage, cell phone video, and penetrating interviews, this film documents police abuses in Portland, OR. Creative filmmaking adds texture. (LJ 4/15/16)
Kids for Cash. color. 102+min. Robert May, Senart Films, dist. by Kino Lorber. 2014. DVD UPC 738329153120. $29.95.
A revealing look at a scandal that resulted in the conviction of two Pennsylvania judges for accepting payments in return for populating a for-profit juvenile detention center. Many of the children had committed minor offenses and had little or no legal representation. The consequences of privatizing prisons are discussed. (LJ 6/15/15)
Killing Them Safely. color. 95+ min. Nick Berardini, dist. by IFC Films. 2016. DVD UPC 030306945194. $24.98.
The filmmakers recount the founding and rise of Taser International, spotlight the popularity and use of tasers by police officers, and raise questions about their safety.
Manhunt—Boston Bombers: Technology’s Role in Catching the Marathon Bombing Suspects. color. 60 min. NOVA, dist. by PBS. 2013. DVD ISBN 9781608839360. $24.99.
With background provided by law enforcement officials close to the investigation, this film exposes the key role technology played in tracking and apprehending the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing. (LJ 9/1/13)
Peace Officer. color. 109 min. FilmRise, dist. by Gravitas Ventures. 2015. DVD $24.95; Blu-ray $29.95.
A former sheriff investigates the death of his son-in-law at the hands of police. His family’s personal loss becomes a springboard for the examination of military-style outfitting of SWAT teams and the overuse of force.
Internet Resources
Bureau of Justice Statistics; www.bjs.gov
The stated mission of this website is to “collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems.” Though geared to policymakers, the data is useful to anyone interested in tracking trends in crime.
The Crime Report; www.thecrimereport.org
From the Center on Media, Crime, and Justice at John Jay College of Law, this daily news service features investigative reporting and commentary on a wide array of topics such as encrypted evidence and gun control.
Police Executive Research Forum; www.policeforum.org
Current reports on such topics as community policing, gun violence, and body cameras.
PoliceOne; www.policeone.com
Intended for law enforcement professionals, PoliceOne offers news articles, chat rooms, product reviews, and newsletters. Its searchable database provides access to articles on the challenges and benefits of social media and other technological advances from the point of view of working officers.
The Developing Schedule
SEPT BAKING
OCT PATIENT HEALTH DVDs
NOV MYSTERY AUTHORS OF COLOR
DEC XERISCAPING & BEYOND
JAN 2017 RUSSIAN REVOLUTION @ 100
To submit titles (new and/or backlist), contact Barbara Genco four to six months before issue dates listed above (email: bgenco@mediasourceinc.com)